About Tower Of London
The Tower of London is one of the most important landmarks in London and the history of the Tower of London is rich in the British monarchy. William the Conqueror built the White Tower in the year 1077 on the North Bank of the River Thames as a sign of Norman power as well as a gateway to the city. It is one of the few remaining fortress palaces from the 11th century that still holds a rich significance in London. From the 11th century to the 16th century, the Tower of London became one of the most important symbols of royalty.
In its course, the Tower of London has served various purposes like a gateway to the capital, a royal symbol, a royal palace, a treasury, an armoury, an exotic zoo, a prison, a setting where three queens were executed, etc. despite the gruesome tower of London history it still holds a lot of importance in the Royal family and it is the house of the Yeoman Warders and has the collection of royal crowns. There are ravens in the castle who are taken care of by the raven master and the ravens are not let out of the castle because of the superstition that if the ravens leave the castle, the Tower of London will see its fall.
Tower Of London - Home Of The Yeoman Warders
The Yeoman Warders are the guards of the Tower of London which were formed in the year 1845 by King Henry VII after the Battle of Bosworth. The Tower of London is a historical castle that is located on the North Bank of the River Thames. The name Tower of London has been derived from the White Tower and the Tower of London has 22 towers. Over the years, in the Tower of London history it has served as a lot of things like a treasury, an armoury, a royal palace, an exotic zoo, a prison, etc. It is the place where the ceremony of the Yeoman Warders takes place and it also has a collection of crowns of the royal family.
History of Tower of London
The White Tower was the very first part of the Tower of London and was constructed in the ear 1077 by William the Conqueror, who was a Norman leader. The Norman leader was afraid that citizens did not support him and that he would be thrown out of the capital. So, in this fear he gave the command to create the Tower of London to show the Norman power as well as the gateway to the capital. By 1285, the white tower was protected by two walls and a moat, and ever since, the Tower of London has not had much of a change or renovation.
In the Tower of London history, it was used as a prison that kept people who were deposed from the Royal Kingdom as well as the criminals who were common men. Some of the common people who were kept in the tower as per the history of Tower of London as prisoners were Lady Jane Grey in the 16th century, princes Edward and Richard, the sons of King Edward IV, the wives of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. One of the common criminals was Guy Fawkes, who tried to bomb the House of Lords in 1605. It is said that Guy Fawkes was brutally tortured as compared to the royal criminals, and this showed the discrimination he had to endure for not being a royal born, and it one of the spots in the tower of London history.
Once upon a time, in the Tower of London history, it has also been used as the royal treasury and a lot of royal collections, including the Crown Jewels, were kept here. The Tower of London was started to be used as a treasury in the year 1303 when a lot of treasures were stolen from the Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster. From Westminster, all the treasures were brought to the Tower of London eventually, as it was one of the most heavily guarded fortresses during that time. Later on, in the year 1508, a new tower was built for keeping treasures and jewels to the South of the White Tower.
During the 1200s, the Royal Menagerie, an exotic zoo, was set up in the Tower of London. Gradually, the animals in the zoo increased and the exotic animals were bears, lions, tigers, ostriches, kangaroos, and a polar bear, and it adds to one of the interesting facts to the Tower of London history. The zoo was then shut down and the animals were moved to another zoo that was far away from the main city in the year 1835. The Tower of London came into the limelight and gained fame in the 17th century when the Line of King’s exhibition was set up.
Facts You Didn't Know About Tower Of London
- Six ravens are kept at the Tower of London at all times because in the history of the Tower of London there has been a superstition that when any one of the ravens leaves, the tower will see its downfall.
- Currently, the Martin Tower of the Tower of London has 23,500 jewels which are valued at £20 million.
- The Tower of London history has seen it being the setting of 22 executions, the last being of a German spy, Josef Jakobs in the year 1941.
- For the first time in the history of the Tower of London, in November 2012, somebody mysteriously stole the key to the internal lock of the tower. While the lock was replaced immediately, the key has still not been found.
- It is believed that a lot of ghosts live in the Tower of London, including Henry VI, Dame Sybil, Henry VIII’s wife Katherine, and a grizzly bear who were all once prisoned here in the tower of London history.
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FAQs
When did the Tower Of London Open?
The construction of the Tower of London began in the year 1077 under the command of William the Conqueror after he successfully conquered London. But William the Conqueror had passed away by the time the construction was complete in the year 1100. Ever since, in the Tower of London history, it has been in use by the royal family for some purpose or the other.
What is the best time to visit London?
London can be visited at any point of the year and its beauty can be enjoyed thoroughly no matter what season it is. However, the busiest season in London is during the summer season and the early days of autumn.
What makes London so famous?
London is famous because of its important landmarks and the architecture of ancient times. The structures and infrastructure are still intact in London and hold a huge significance in the history of the country. The architecture and buildings in London have been an inspiration for a lot of other infrastructures in the world.
What is special about the Tower Of London?
The Tower of London has stories even before it was built, and with time the stories began increasing in number. Ever since its establishment, the Tower of London has been in use for various purposes and is one of the major landmarks in London as well as an important symbol of royalty, even with its gruesome history.
Can I book Tower of London Tickets online?
Yes, Tower of London tickets can be bought online and it is recommended to purchase the tickets online as you might have to stand in long queues for hours to get the tickets.